Plastic tie down clip

ABSTRACT

A plastic tie down clip including a body and a disc for fastening to a sheet of material. The body includes large internal opening at one end and a smaller internal opening at the second end with a tapered slot interconnecting the openings. The slot decreases in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening. The intersection of the slot and the smaller opening is provided with locking shoulders facing the smaller opening. The disc has an irregularly shaped periphery. The body is placed over the material and the disc is placed under the material and shoved through the large opening carrying the material through the large opening and is moved along the tapered slot to carry the material into the smaller opening and to be locked therein by the shoulders. The irregularly shape of the disc prevents slippage between the material and the disc and acts as a locking device in the small opening of the body.

[4 1 Oct. 21, 1975 PLASTIC TIE DOWN CLIP [75] Inventors: Clarence R. Ray, Porter; Jack A. La

Brie, Houston, both of Tex.

[73] Assignee: Van Leer Plastics (U.S.A.) Inc., Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 447,647

[52] U.S. Cl 24/245 R; 24/245 A; 24/247; 24/263 HE [51] Int. Cl. A44B 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/245 R, 245 A, 263 HE, 24/243 HE, 245 B, 245 FF, 247

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,041 10/1931 Hamacher 24/245 R 2,235,703 3/1941 Epworth 24/245 R 2,472,235 6/1949 Sullivan.... 24/245 R 2,939,195 6/1960 Carlson.... 24/245 R 3,345,714 10/1967 Finkel 24/246 3,400,435 9/1968 Rydin 24/247 3,408,708 11/1968 Hawie 24/245 R 3,422,504 l/l969 Brown 24/245 A 3,556,104 1/1971 Janklow 24/245 FF FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,062,191 7/1959 Germany 24/245 FF 121,569 12/1918 United Kingdom 24/245 R 909,322 4/1954 Germany 753,431 7/1956 United Kingdom 24/245 A Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or FirmFulbright & Jaworski [57] ABSTRACT A plastic tie down clip including a body and a disc for fastening to a sheet of material. The body includes large internal opening at one end and a smaller internal opening at the second end with a tapered slot interconnecting the openings. The slot decreases in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening. The intersection of the slot and the smaller opening is provided with locking shoulders facing the smaller opening. The disc has an irregularly shaped periphery. The body is placed over the material and the disc is placed under the material and shoved through the large opening carrying the material through the large opening and is moved along the tapered slot to carry the material into the smaller opening and to be locked therein by the shoulders. The irregularly shape of the disc prevents slippage between the material and the disc and acts as a locking device in the small opening of the body.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PLASTIC TIE DOWN CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, it is old toprovide a tie down clip which can be connected to a sheet of material such as tarps, covers and plastic sheeting which can be connected to the material and tied down such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,195. The present invention is directed to an improved tie down clip, which is plastic and can be inexpensively produced in mass quantities, which is strong, and which can be easily and quickly attached to a sheet of material and securely fastened thereto and locked in place.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a plastic tie down clip having a plastic body and a disc. The plastic body includes a large internal disc insertion opening at one end and a smaller internal disc locking opening at the second end with a tapered slot interconnecting the openings. The slot decreases in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening. At the intersection of the slot and the smaller opening locking shoulders are provided facing the smaller opening.

The disc includes an irregularly shaped outer periphery and is sized to be inserted through the large opening, but sized larger than the smaller opening. The clip is secured to a sheet of material by placing the body on one side of the material and the disc on the second side of the material and the disc is pushed towards the body carrying the material through the large opening. The disc is then moved laterally carrying the material along the tapered slot and into the smaller opening thereby locking the material in the smaller opening and against the locking shoulders. The clip is then secured to the material, and a line may be run through the larger opening for anchoring or securing the material.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an enlarged rib on the body extending along the outer edges of the large opening, the small opening, and the tapered slot for increasing the strength of the body.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of an enlarged rib extending about the outer periphery of the disc for increasing contact between the disc and the material for minimizing slippage therebetween.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a plastic tie down clip in which the body and disc are initially joined together by molding breakable connections therebetween which prevents one portion from being lost from the second portion, but allowing the disc to be separated easily when it is desired to use the clip.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan elevation view of the plastic tie down clip of the present invention as manufactured,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the disc sepa rated from the body with a sheet of material therebetween preparatory to connecting the clip to the sheet of material. H V

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the disc being moved through the large opening of thebody and carrying the material through the large opening, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the position of the parts after the disc has been moved laterally towards the small opening carrying the material into the smaller opening and locking the material and disc therein, and in which the largeropening may be secured to a suitable anchoring line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates the plastic tie down clip of the present invention and generally includes a body,l2 and a disc 14.

The body 12 includes a first large internal disc receiving opening 16 at one end and a second smaller internal disc locking opening 18 at a second end. A tapered slot 20 interconnects the openings 16 and 18, the slot 20 decreasing in size from the large opening 16 towards the smaller opening 18. The intersection of the slots 20 and the small opening 18 is. provided with locking shoulders 22 and 24 facing the smaller opening 18 for retaining and locking the sheet material therein, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The disc 14 has an irregularly shaped periphery 26, such as corregated shape, and is sized smaller than the large opening 16 for insertion therethrough, but is sized larger than the smaller opening 18 so that the disc cannot be pulled through the opening 18. The outer periphery 26 of the disc is irregularly shaped to maximize its contact with the material to which the clip 10 is to be attached and to prevent slippage between the disk and the material.

For increasing the strength of the clip 10, an enlarged rib 28 extends along the outer edges of the large opening 16, the slot 20, and the small opening 18. In addition, the disc includes an enlarged rib 30 about its outer periphery for strengthening the disc and reducing the possibility of its breakage.

Preferably, the clip 10 is molded out of a high density polyethylene and, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 12 and the disk 14 are molded simultaneously and secured together by a plurality of breakable connections 32 which securely hold the parts 12 and 14 together until they are to be used. When it is desired to connect the clip 10 to a material, the disc 14 may be quickly and easily pushed out of the large opening 16 breaking the connections 32.

In use, and as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the disc 14 is broken out and removed from the body 12. Referring first to FIG. 3, the irregularly shaped disc 14 is placed on one side of a sheet of material 40 to which the clip 10 is desired to be secured. The body 12 is placed on the second side of the material 40. The large opening 16 is placed in alignment with the disc 14 and the disc is pushed towards the opening 16 carrying the material 40 through the large opening 16, as best seen in FIG. 4. The disc 14 is then moved laterally, carrying the material 40 along the tapered slot 20 into the smaller opening 18 of the body 12. The material 40 is then pulled taunt, drawing the material downwardly so that the material is pulled tight around the irregular outer periphery 26 of the disc 14, creating a locked position of the material 40 by the disc 14 against the small opening 18 of the body 12. The large opening 16 may then be fastened to any suitable anchoring means such as an anchoring line 42, all as best seen in FIG. 5. The tapering slot 20 reduces the tendency of the disc 14 to twist, and the locking shoulders 22 and 24 lock the material 40 about the disc 14. The irregular shape of the disc 14 maximizes the surface contact of the material 40 with the disc 14, which functions as a locking device in the small opening 18, and minimizes slippage.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure. numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A plastic tie down clip for fastening to a sheet of material comprising,

a plastic body having a large internal opening at one end, and a smaller internal opening at the second end,

a tapered slot interconnecting said openings, the slot decreasing in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening,

the intersection of the slot and the smaller opening providing sharp locking shoulders facing the smaller opening,

a disc having an irregularly shaped periphery for preventing slippage between the material and the disc, said disc sized to be inserted through the large opening, but sized larger than the smaller opening, and

said disc includes an enlarged rib extending about the outer periphery of said disc providing an edge surface wider than the disc for preventing slippage of material placed between the disc and the body.

2. A plastic tie down clip for fastening to a sheet of material comprising,

a plastic body having a large internal opening at one end, and a smaller internal opening at the second end,

a tapered slot interconnecting said openings, the slot decreasing in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening,

the intersection of the slot and the smaller opening providing sharp locking shoulders facing the smaller opening,

a disc having an irregularly shaped periphery for preventing slippage between the material and the disc, said disc sized to be inserted through the large opening, but sized larger than the smaller opening, and

said body and disc are initially joined together by breakable means extending between the large opening and the disc. 

1. A plastic tie down clip for fastening to a sheet of material comprising, a plastic body having a large internal opening at one end, and a smaller internal opening at the second end, a tapered slot interconnecting said openings, the slot decreasing in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening, the intersection of the slot and the smaller opening providing sharp locking shoulders facing the smaller opening, a disc having an irregularly shaped periphery for preventing slippage between the material and the disc, said disc sized to be inserted through the large opening, but sized larger than the smaller opening, and said disc includes an enlarged rib extending about the outer periphery of said disc providing an edge surface wider than the disc for preventing slippage of material placed between the disc and the body.
 2. A plastic tie down clip for fastening to a sheet of material comprising, a plastic body having a large internal opening at one end, and a smaller internal opening at the second end, a tapered slot interconnecting said openings, the slot decreasing in size from the large opening toward the smaller opening, the intersection of the slot and the smaller opening providing sharp locking shoulders facing the smaller opening, a disc having an irregularly shaped periphery for preventing slippage between the material and the disc, said disc sized to be inserted through the large opening, but sized larger than the smaller opening, and said body and disc are initially joined together by breakable means extending between the large opening and the disc. 